Control of Glycol Dehydrator Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene Emissions

40025 August 21, 1996 Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. By 1997, enforcement of the Clean Air Act will require installation of control technology to eliminate BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) emissions from more than 6,000 glycol dehydration systems in the U.S. State and local regulations may affect even more systems. This is a problem because no accepted treatment technology has been developed. This project will develop a membrane pervaporation process that is able to achieve essentially 100% emissions control. The process produces no secondary hazardous waste streams. Emissions are converted to a methane-containing gas stream that is sent to the boiler fuel line, a BTEX liquid stream that is collected for credit, and water containing less than 1 part per million of BTEX that is discharged. The system will be low-cost, compact, and lightweight; the value of the recovered BTEX will completely offset the operating and capital costs. In the Phase I project, the technical and economic feasibility of the process will be demonstrated by a parametric test program using model feed streams in an existing pilot system modified to operate on glycol regeneration off-gas condensate. In Phase II, field tests of the technology will be performed at a cooperating natural gas processing plant using a proof-of-concept demonstration system. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Treatment technology for glycol dehydration emissions is needed urgently; the proposed pervaporation process has the potential to fill this need rapidly. An immediate market for 1,000 systems of the type proposed has been estimated. A larger market may develop as the technology matures.